The Supposed Murder of Hugh A Hamilton.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4357, 18 December 1882, Page 2

The Supposed Murder of Hugh A Hamilton.

The contradictory statemeotsVmade by Priestley as to his whereabouts on the night of the alleged murder form an important part of the implicatory evidence that has been obtained against him. It will be recollected tb.at Mr Bicbardson met him at 7 30 p.m. on Tuesday the 28th ult., going into Mrs Gorrie's house in Pitt street, when he remarked that heu&> tended going to Onehunga that night, but it was the next Sunday morning, and not the following morning, that he recalled the circumstance to Mr Richardson's recollection. . In answer to Superintendent Thomson's enquiries he said that he went into Mrs Gorrie's to get some cure for neuralgia, aa. the lady is a skilled homcepathist, and that he only remained there a moment, setting out for Onehunga immediately afterwards and spending the night there. He gave the name of the person at whose house he professc 1 to have stopped, but on Detective Strathcarn going out to see if this was so, he found that the prisoner had not been there at all. It was further ascertained that he had. told some one else that he had spent the night fishing off Eangitotd. When he had been made acquainted with the fact that these discrepancies were known he told Superintendent Thomson that he had gone out to Onehunga, but meeting a child of the family with whom he intended stopping he gave her a message, and went on to a friend's at Mangare, where he stayed for the night. This also was inquired into by Detective Strathorn, and found to be without foundation. The prisoner further stated that on his way back from Onehunga he called in at Mr Morgan's chemist shop in Karangahape road about noon, and there he learnt of the murder. Those who were present said that, on being told Hamilton was dead, he exclaimed, " What Hamilton ? " and on being answered pro» fessed great astonishment and concern, and then hastened away, saying that the wife would be in a great state, and that he must see her. To MrSuedden, it will be sees elsewhere, he said he arrived in town from Onehunga during the after< noon. . Hearing that Mr James A. Snedden, employed at Messrs Me Master's drapery warehouse in Queen street, had had an interview with the prisoner Priestly on the morning of the burial of Hamilton, ■we interviewed him and obtained some new and important information bearing directly on the subject of the supposed murder. Mr Snedden very reluctantly gave the following statement: It was on the morning of the burial when I was in the shop, that Thomas Priestly came io, and in course of conversation he volunteered the statement that iv his opinion, "Hugh Hamilton had been waylaid and thrashed. He also remarked, " STou know I was.out at Onehunga that night and did not return until three o'clock the next afternoon." He then said, " Hamilton must indeed have been a strong man, for all along the sides of the passage you could see blood marks where his hands had been, and it must have been oqtside the house where he was struck." Priestly seemed under the impression that it was not within the building that Hamilton received the two cuts, cn'd said he had made particular enquiry of them (meaning, I suppose, Mrs Hamilton and friends) as to how the doors were left, whether open or closed. Now that the fact has been made public that it is suspected that Hugh Hamilton v came by his death by means other than described at the inquest, various rumors of a more or less damaging character have gone into circulation, end have caused a great sensation. It is stated by persons well acquainted with the family that Mrs Hamilton a short time ago consulted a solicitor; with the object of securing a divorce, and that at the same time she was on very intimate terms with Prießtly, but we eancpt yet vouch for the reliability of the statement. A much more serious matter which is attracting public aitention is the strange coincidence that on the same day Hamilton died au infant of the family also departed this life, and was buried with the father. This becoming publicly

known caused much comment, and now there are not wanting many who assert suspicion that the child died an unnatural death, and the police are called upon to take this additional mystery in hand and unravel it to the satisfaction of all. The purchase of strychnine by th» prisoner Priestly is alluded to with peculiar significance, and we must admit that his actions call for much inquiry into this as well as other matters.—Star.

(PBOM OUE OWN COEEEBPOKDENT.) Auckland, This day. A rumor is current that Mrs Hamilton has confessed ; no particulars. Later.—There is no truth in the rumor of Mrs Hamilton's confession.